Progress

It has been longer than I intended since my last update. I was planning on posting right after the team left but unfortunately my body would not cooperate. I spent most of last week in bed or asleep on the couch with the flu or something like it. I had body aches, chills when I was not roasting, a nasty cough and no energy. I wanted to do things but every time I stopped or sat down, I was sleeping in a few seconds. Needless to say, writing was out of the question.

Happily, I am fully recovered now and would like to update you on the team and the work that happened in early June. The team from Risen Life Church in Utah arrived on Friday evening and they began helping out immediately. There was an evangelism event that was Scheduled for Saturday morning and they went to the streets along with Church members and they blanketed much of the town. They went to the park and to neighborhoods handing out the Gospel of John booklets and looking for opportunities to share about Jesus. Even though they were limited in their abilities to communicate, they all had a great time and were excited to help.

On Monday we started the construction week. The team began the prep work for constructing the Church walls in Membrillal.  They cleaned the area, tied re bar for the beams and began to get the block work started. This is the first team that has done significant block work because it is one of the more difficult jobs. We took a break from work in Membriallal to go work in Zapote for two days. The plan was to work there Wednesday and Thursday and then go back to finish the block on Friday in Membrillal. They were going to build a house and two stoves, not a hard two days work but enough that they would know that they had been busy. They finished it all in one long, hot, tiring and dirty day.

Most of the team went back to work in Membrillal a day early. Rudy took 3 with him back to Zapote to finish tearing down the old, dilapidated house while the rest of us went to continue working on the Church walls. By the end of Thursday we were a full day ahead of schedule. The block was almost completely done up through the first 5 rows, where we were going to stop and pour columns and beams. On Friday, our bonus day we were able to pour them and the Church was starting to shape up. You could now see what it was going to look like.

Risen Life worked hard and I was once again impressed by their work ethic and determination to finish more than anyone though was possible. In their week of work we had 4 days of monsoon rains each afternoon. It poured so hard that the water was making rivers running down the streets. They kept working through it all. Tono told me to clean up because we were done so I started collecting tools and cleaning up the garbage in the rain. Two hours later they were finished with all the work that they wanted to accomplish. They were not going to let 2" if rain falling in a 3 hour period keep them from finishing. They worked hard and they never complained.

I was impressed by how hard the team worked but even more by their attitudes and their view of the work they were doing. They did not come to Guatemala to build buildings and stoves. They came to advance the Kingdom of God and were going to do that regardless of the tasks that entailed. Their work was primarily to honor and glorify Jesus. They did that in Guatemala and they will be doing that in Salt Lake now that they are home. They understand that the call is to be faithful to God's purposes and plans wherever you happen to find yourself at the moment. They made eternal progress this week that goes beyond the number of blocks set and the projects finished. I pray that they are blessed and that Risen Life reaps blessings for all of the sowing that they do.

Jarrod fitting block around a roof drain.

Greg working on the wall near the stage.

Transformation

As many of you have probably figured out by now, I love Guatemala. When I am here, I miss my family and friends back home but I love this place. I am pretty sure that Heaven will be a lot like it without all of the noise, pollution and corruption. What I am saying it that the mountains and much of the Latin Culture draw me in. I know that God has created me for a place like this. There are some things that are challenging but they are nothing compared to the love of God has put in my heart for Guatemala.

We do many different things and I have written about all of them at one time or another, things like stove building, house construction, the Food Machine, outreach and evangelism events and I love them all. Of the things that we do though I love the schools and Church construction the most. While the other things all help individuals or families, these two things have the power to transform a community. As people begin to understand that God created them with a purpose and in His image, they no longer want to settle for just getting by. They want to do something with their lives that impacts the world. Educated people who know that they are created with purpose and in God's image can transform a country. That is the goal of the Churches and schools.

Right now, Guatemala is in a difficult time. Violence has seemed to be on the rise recently. There are bus driver shootings and other murders being reported in the paper almost every day. The government is also in a state of turmoil. The vice president was forced to resign a couple of weeks ago because she has been tied to a corruption and bribery scandal that was led by her personal secretary, who is still on the run. Many other people have also been  named in this scandal, the head of banking, the director of SAT (the national taxing body) The customs director and numerous other government officials. There have been protests every weekend for the last month in several locations calling for an outside investigation and the resignation of the president. To date he has denied any wrongdoing or knowledge of the involvement of several cabinet members.

The schools and Churches need to be at the forefront of change in this country. Pastor Merari and others have had a vision to see that happen and has been working, along with other pastors, Church staff, Kid's Alive International  and short term teams to see that happen.  Bringing the light of Jesus into the lives of kids and their families is the reason the schools exist. In Zapote, it is going very well. The school at Membrillal is not doing as well right now unfortunately. That is something I want to ask you all to be praying about.

Each year, the schools grow by adding one class. The kids that start will be able to continue in the school until 8th grade. Last year Membrillal had 1st through 4th grade. This year a 5th grade class was added. That added about 20 new students and a new teacher. There were some unsponsored students last year and now there are more because of the addition of an extra class. The sponsorship cover almost all of the expenses for a student if they are fully sponsored. Right now there are about 30 students that need sponsors. That is putting a serious financial strain on the operation of the school. We need to change this situation soon. It is critical for the school to be able to continue to enhance the lives of the students and to be an instrument of change in Guatemala.

I love these kids and the impact the the school is having on their lives and on their families. Next year we are suppose to add another class but that is going to take some people getting involved and sponsoring children. I am asking you to do three things.

1. Pray that God would bring in all of the needed funds. Ultimately it is His school and we are just stewards of His property and the children.
2. Pray about what, if anything, God would have you to do personally. Maybe He is calling you to make a one time gift or to sponsor a child. I do not know who gives and do not want you to feel pressure from me but I am asking you to ask God if you are called to help financially.
3. Share this blog post. If many people read and pray, God will move the hearts of the ones that He has called. Share it on facebook and email it to friends. Got the word out.

Thank you for being obedient, however God calls you to respond. You are all greatly appreciated.

This does not have anything to do with my own personal support, it is only for the schools at Membrillal. I want to thank you for those that have generously supported me while in my time here. You are a blessing and I am eternally grateful for your partnership in the work God has called me to.

If you want to support the school copy and past this link  http://www.hishandssupportministries.org/guatemala or you can click on His Hand above in the links tab and give through this organization. They are one of the two partner organizations that we are working with to find sponsorships for all of our children.

You can still support me by mailing checks to
Life Church, Morris
C/O Guatemala Missions
P.O. Box 679 
Morris, IL 60450 

Enough

I have been thinking about something for a few days now and I believe  that God has put it on my heart but along with this idea, I have heard a 1,000 excuses in my mind. I am not ready to share the idea just yet because I need to talk to a few people and also I need to ask God to more fully develop it so I know what the next step to take will be. What I want to share right now is the issues that try and rob a God given vision.

When I started to think about this thing that God was putting in my heart, I got excited. It would open doors for many that right now seem to be closed. After my excitement, I got hit with reality. This would cost a lot of money and would require a big time investment from many people. I got frustrated at the difficulties that were ahead and wanted to complain and run away. I let the idea begin to die before Holy Spirit had a chance to develop it in me. I know that it was from God but I also knew that I felt far short of the task.

God began to speak to me about His Kingdom yesterday. In Matt 6 and Luke 12, Jesus tells us that the Father knows what we need and that we should not spend our time chasing after these things. He continues on to tell us to seek His Kingdom and He will take care of our needs. In Matt 16, He goes on to tell us that He is building His Church (Kingdom) and the gates of Hell will not prevail against it.. It sounds like God has a plan for all that needs to be done and He has provision to make it happen.. I need faith to step into the plan.

What I am realizing is that it is God's job to direct us, provide the resources for the work and provide for our needs as we walk in obedience to Him. My job is to become intimate with His voice and to obey what He directs. If I am trying to figure out all of the logistics of a thing, I am stepping into His territory. My plans keep me form His best, His provision and His prosperity. I can get my best and come far short of what He intends. I do not want that.

When we pray the Lord's Prayer, we pray "Your kingdom come on earth as it is in Heaven." but do we mean it. In Heaven their is one agenda, the purpose of God. We often want to direct God into our purposes to act according to our will. If we want His Kingdom manifested in our town, country or even the world, we have to lay down our agenda and work on His. The good news is that when we do this, he is responsible for providing the needs of money, workers and resources. In Heaven there is no shortage of anything. His Kingdom manifest on earth also has no shortage even though we might not always understand how He supplies or may have to wait on His timing to receive it.

I am not talking about a prosperity Gospel. To often that is about the kingdom of self. God has not interest in or intent to build my kingdom. He fully intends to build His kingdom and when we set our hearts and minds on obeying His direction in that call, He will pour the resources of Heaven into that endeavor. He is building His Church (Kingdom) and nothing can stop that. Our choice is to get on board His plan and get to see it happen or to fight for our own plans and get crushed at the point where the Kingdom of God is in conflict with the world.

What I am realizing is the only thing that stops me from walking in God's plan is my own agenda. God is moving with me or without me. The idea He put in my head will happen but I may not get to be part of it. I guess it is time to embrace the work of the cross, let my own plans and agenda die and get on board with what God is about to do.

I want Your Kingdom on earth as it is in Heaven. Teach me to seek that daily instead of my own desires  and plans Jesus. Your plans and your Kingdom rule are better.

Lost in a Dying World

    It seems like Guatemala has become more violent in the last few weeks, or at least my awareness of it has increased. As we approach Holy week it seems like the devil and his forces are on overtime. In the last week, I have heard of three events that really drove this home. A Canadian team was working in the Antigua area last week. They were not one of our teams and so I have little information but some of the team had gone to play soccer with some of the local people and a gang robbed them at gunpoint, taking their shoes, money, phones and other valuables. They were not harmed, only robbed.
     Another incident happened in the city. Some friends there minister to a group of people, sharing the love of Jesus with them on a regular basis. They get to know these people and develop relationships with them. For most, my friends are the only light that Jesus is able to shine into their deception. Earlier this week. One of the women that they have been ministering to for many years was murdered.
     Finally, I went out to pick up supper last Friday night to a little restaurant down the street. I ordered and waited at the pick up window for my food. The guy that walked in behind me had a gun and robbed the place. (Not me. I am completely fine). He had 2 accomplices that stayed outside, one was a lookout and the other was a the getaway rider. Right across the street is a crowded park where there was a basketball game going on with probably 50 people watching.  All three left on a 125cc motorcycle. After they left, I spent the next several minutes reassuring the women that was the only other customer in there. She was shaken and was sure that she was going to die.
     As I walked home, I pondered all that had just happened. I was not nervous of fearful or even angry. I did take some time to pray though and God spoke something right to me. The world needs the light. The darkest places need it the most. Where there is violence, crime, prostitution, murder, those are the place that the Church needs to be running to not fleeing from. We cannot have the luxury of looking for the safe places to go minister. The safe places already have hundreds of sources of light but in the darkness, there is very little. If we do not go to those places, all of the people there will be lost for eternity and we will have to answer for why we did not step in.
    Guatemala is a country steeped in religion. There are 13 million people. Many would claim to be Christian but they have held on to Mayan beliefs blended with Catholicism. They do not understand that the Gospel is about transformation. Their understanding is that if they are good enough and perform the right rituals at the right time, they will probably be okay. We need to show the light and the love of Jesus to them. There are many local Churches that are working on that but the job is big. We need to be the encourager that come alongside and support them. It is not our job to take over the evangelism efforts but support our brothers and sisters that are already doing the work of the Gospel where they are. My role is to be here in active support. Yours may be that or something different but the world needs us to find and fulfill our roles.
     Out of my incident came a great story. The Church that I attend here had a planned evangelism day set for the next day. After people going door to door for several hours, there was an outreach event in that same park where the guys had been playing basketball the night before. There was worship, a powerful skit portraying the freedom and life that comes only from relationship to Jesus and a short Gospel message. The woman that was in the restaurant with me came. She talked for several minutes with one of the Church woman and then again at the end of the presentation they were talking. She was sharing the story of the previous night as I left to go home. I pray that events of Friday helped draw her to new life in Jesus Saturday.
     I have read a quote that says "The true meaning of life is to plant trees, under whose shade you do not expect to sit." It is by Nelson Henderson. When we leave our comfort zone to share the Gospel we are bringing light to darkness but we are also doing something bigger. While we are changing the world, we are planting trees for future generations to rest under. We are leaving an inheritance of a better world for the next generation. If people understand that the true nature of the Gospel is lives transformed by love, the world will become a much friendlier place. Everybody wants to be loved but few have experienced it in the depths God meant for it to be experienced. When we tell somebody, they may not hear us but when we go out of our way to demonstrate the love of Jesus, it will make a lasting impact.
     Are you changing your world?  Have you thought about running into dark places? Are you ready to see how much of a difference you can make? Now is the day. Take a risk. Grab your sword and run at the devil. Jesus has won the victory so we cannot loose.

I was standing near the counter of Pollo Granjero when it was robbed.

What are you giving?

This has been a tiring few weeks. We have had teams, moved countless wheelbarrows of dirt down a hill only to he to walk back up and shovel more, had  a concert with Peter Furler, and poured a Church floor in Membrillal only to have the portion over the cistern collapse and have to be re-poured. I am not complaining. As a matter of fact, I have enjoyed most of it. I especially enjoy every day that I get to go to one of the schools and spend time interacting with the kids. I get to do that often. I am just saying that I am tired.

I wanted to share a revelation this morning that I received while listening to a message by my pastor back in the States, Jon Nebbeling. He was talking about the feeding of the 5,000 men plus all that were with them. I was struck by Andrew as he shared the story. We have all heard it countless times but it impacted me this morning as a new way. Andrew brought a boy that have 5 small loaves and 2 fish to feed thousands. I am sure the disciples laughed but not Jesus. For Him, it was the launching point. He said, "Tell them to sit down".

This story got me thinking about the need around me and what I have to offer, or more correctly do not offer because it seems so small. How many times have I held back because what I had seemed barely enough to meet my need let alone that of anyone else. Whether I am in Illinois or Guatemala, I am surrounded by people with such large needs that I feel completely inadequate. I let that feeling keep me from offering to God what I do have. I am stopped by what my senses dictate.

Do you ever do that? Do you ever hold back because you know that there is no way you have what is needed for the task? What should our response be?

As I was thinking about this, I came to a conclusion. The things God is calling us to will always leave us feeling inadequate. We will never have enough to accomplish it. Our gifts, talents and resources will never be enough. You might ask why that is. If I can do it without God, I can take the glory for it. He wants to do things that we cannot do in our own strength. But, He also wants us to participate in what He is doing. The way that we do that is to bring whatever we have and offer it to Him completely. When we offer the little we have, He tells the people to sit down and then begins to multiply our little to meet their need. God is the one who multiplies. We are only called to offer Him what we do have. He knows our limits but those are the very things that He uses to bring Himself glory.

What area are you feeling drawn to today? What frightens you about going into it? Step out. Offer God what you do have, knowing that it is completely insufficient to meet the need and then watch Him multiply your offering.

When the Rewards Come

Last week was a rewarding week. Along with the team from Hinton Alliance, we went to work in Zapote. We had two houses to build in three days. The first house was full of rocks and we thought that there was no way we would get two houses done because the digging took so long on the first.  By the end of the first day all that we had done was to set all of the support posts. While some of us went to that house a second day, 2 others went with Rudy to the second house to begin tear down and digging to prepare that lot for building. That was when the fun began.


The second lot had rocks but that was of little consequence. It also had numerous boulders that were 2 to 3' in diameter. They must have weighed a ton each. Kelvin and Rudy spent the whole day there digging around one that could not stay if we were going to build on this tiny lot. When we came from the first house at 3:30 to help them, they were trying to move it out of a
2 1/2' deep hole with large breaker bars. We strapped it with a tow strap and pulled while they pried. after about 10 more minutes, we had it moved 20' and out of the way.

When we went back the next day we encountered many more of these massive boulders. We tried for a couple of hours to move them but eventually realized that we would never finish the house if we continued this effort. The decision was made to bring in several truck loads of dirt to level the lot. While some did that, others began building. even though we had such a late start, I am happy to say that at 6 o'clock Wednesday evening we finished and dedicated it also. These accomplishments were rewarding but there was something else that was the highlight of the week for me.

Before we began the first house, Pastor Jose Louis told us the story of the family that we were working to help. The mother was a widow with four daughters. One had a young son that also stayed with them. One of the daughters is wanting to study accounting but needed to work and save money so she could go to school. This is an uncommon thing in this remote village. Last year, she did not go to school but when to work in Peten,  a northern department 12 hours away by bus so she could save money for school. Around Christmas time, she was robbed and severely beaten. All of the money she had saved was robbed and she was in very bad shape for over two weeks. She still has the remnants of scars and swelling in her face.

Milvia, the girl that was attacked and robbed.

When she came home, the family called Pastor Jose Louis to come pray for her even though they were not part of the Church. As he ministered to the family, The Holy Spirit moved. As a result of all of this, 17 people in this family surrendered their lives to Jesus. There was a transformation. The girl that was beaten seemed to be at peace. She did not seem at all anxious around us strangers and was helpful and talkative. You could tell God was at work in her life healing and restoring all that the enemy had tried to steal. I think every one of us also felt like we were suppose to be part of the restoration process. While we never give money to the families we serve, we all felt the prompting of God to give to her. In order to preserve the ministry and not create unrealistic expectations, we gave it to Pastor Jose Louis to give it at the right time. She has now left to return to work and is still planning on going to school next year. Please keep this family in your prayers.

It is stories like this that make this whole experience worth it. When we get to see the love of Jesus flow into people's lives as a result of the ministry that the work makes possible, joy is natural. I feel so blessed to be part of a ministry that keeps men like Pastor Jose Louis in the field. He is able to minister in ways that would not be possible without the resources that come and allow the love of God to be seen in tangible ways. Thank you for your support and prayers. This story is part of of what you all make possible.

Getting Prepared.

It has been a very busy two weeks here as we prepare for 2015. There have been construction projects, repairs, cleaning and many little tasks to finish in order to be ready for our first team of the year. When I arrived, work had already begun on the first major project. Our storage room was being turned into another bedroom and bathroom for people. This involve carrying and cutting many cement blocks, mixing cement and concrete by hand on the ground and bending and tying lots of re-bar. Because we are going to have two teams, working on two different projects at the beginning of February, we will need to house 35 people. This is about 6 more than we have done before. We completed the rooms, got them painted and cleaned about 6:00 last night. That was good timing because we had our first team of 6 arrive at 10:00 last night.

I also have been able to spend some time working with Mike and Cindy Harrington. We went to the Children's home in Santiago earlier in the week and worked on a few small projects to help them out. We built a work bench for the wood shop, repaired bikes, fixed screens and other minor tasks. It was fun to get to hang out with the kids and help out a little at the same time. I always love to spend some time there. The kids make life interesting but it is always fun.

A lot of the work that we have done is difficult or tedious and many would ask why I come here to do things like this. I wanted to share the thought that keeps coming to me for the last few weeks and hope that it blesses you as it has me.

We have limited time to accomplish anything on this earth. Whatever money or possessions we acquire here will eventually decay, break or burn. We work 40 years to have 15 or 20 years of retirement when we are mostly beyond the age of doing many of the things that we dreamed of when we were younger. Life as we understand it is short. Why live for it? In eternity will we be bragging about the car, house retirement plan, vacations or any other thing that we worked so hard for on the earth? We all will die. Why not make the most of the time we are here?

I think that God is telling us to build an eternal retirement. More than that, He is calling us to invest our time here in an eternal inheritance. If we are co-heirs with Jesus and we are Sons of God, doesn't it make sense to forget about the things that we hold fast to and spend ourselves on  building the kingdom of God? Is there any other thing that will pay dividends into our eternity? To build His kingdom means to invest our lives in people. Get to know them. Help them in their need and also help them prepare to live beyond need in the place of their Father's love. It means to live from a Heavenly perspective looking to see the Kingdom on earth as it is in Heaven. Mostly, it means to lay down our lives in worship to the one that created and redeemed us and allow Him to direct our every interaction. I think that this may lead to some difficult places and it may have a cost temporarily but I believe the eternal rewards will outweigh all of that.

2Ti 1:9-12 who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, for which I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher, which is why I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that Day what has been entrusted to me.

Do you know that you have been called and entrusted? Do you know that you can trust God to hold and to multiply that which you hand to Him? Do you know that your choice as a believer is to work for the temporary, fleeting rewards of this life or to invest in a Kingdom where you have an inheritance? Are you working as hard on the eternal as you are in your preparations for today? Now is the time to prepare.